Retail Worker Tells Oprah Handbag Is "Too Expensive" For Her

The entire country of Switzerland is on the defense today after Oprah recounts a tale of her trip to Zurich for Tina Turner's wedding. While shopping on Bahnhofstrasse (the Rodeo Drive of Europe) at the Trois Pomme botique, the Queen of Media asked to check out a $40,000 handbag.

"I said, 'But I really do just want to see that one,' and the shopkeeper said, 'Oh, I don't want to hurt your feelings,' and I said, 'Okay, thank you so much. You're probably right, I can't afford it,'" Oprah, who made 77 million in 2012, told Entertainment Tonight. "And I walked out of the store."

"I could've had the whole blow-up thing and thrown down the black card, but why do that?" Oprah added. "But that clearly is, you know... [Racism] still exists. Of course it does."

Shop owner Trudie Goetz apologized for the situation, claiming it only occurred because her employee didn't recognize Oprah. Oh, and because she's Italian and doesn't speak English very well, apparently.

In any case, Switzerland Tourism agents are scrambling to dodge a bullet.

"We are very sorry for what happened to her," a rep for the tourism office said. Later, the office sent out a tweet saying "this person acted terribly wrong."

During an interview with Larry King, she was specifically asked if she's had any racist experiences, given the racial discussions going on in America now. She mentioned the above incident briefly, and then it took off. So she was asked about it again in more detail in the ET interview you see above.

That is not attention craving. I'm pretty sure anytime Oprah wants attention, she can have it. There's nothing to crave.